Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Pieris japonica 'Little Heath'
Little Heath Pieris
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 2 to 3 feet
- Width
- 2 to 3 feet
- Flower color
- White or pale pink
- Foliage color
- Variegated with shades of cream, pink, and green
- Bloom time
- Early spring
- Light
- Partial shade to full sun
- Water
- Regular
- Maintenance
- Low maintenance, minimal pruning needed to remove dead or damaged branches
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 5 to 8
- Wildlife
- Attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies with its fragrant flowers
About this plant
Pieris japonica 'Little Heath' produces sparse clusters of small, white, bell-shaped flowers from pink buds in early to mid-spring, providing nectar and pollen for bees and other early pollinators. Small, glossy leaves have green centers edged in creamy white, while fresh spring growth emerges with a soft pink to bronze-red flush before developing its mature variegation. The dense evergreen foliage forms a neat, rounded mound and provides bright color and fine texture throughout the year.
Derived from Pieris japonica, a species native to eastern Asia, 'Little Heath' was selected for its compact growth and colorful foliage. Its tidy form makes it especially useful along shaded borders, in woodland gardens, foundation plantings, courtyard gardens, and containers, where the variegated leaves can brighten darker planting areas throughout every season.
Works well in
Shade Gardens · Woodland Gardens · Containers · Deer Prone Areas
Companion plants
Hydrangea · Viburnum · Pulmonaria · Japanese forest grass · Wood sorrel · Epimedium
Design tip
Brighten a darker planting with ‘Little Heath’s’ cream, pink, and green variegation, which provides color and definition throughout the year. Its dense, mounded form keeps the intricate foliage visually contained, while pale spring flowers add a softer layer of seasonal interest.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
